Advent 2024: Sun 1 Dec
Of a rose
Christmas songs go way back into our history. We’ll take a look at some older carols and also some that come from less familiar traditions.
Of a Rose Synge We dates back to the 15th century. It tells of the Virgin Mary, depicted as a rose. Latin phrases are interspersed in the text – we will see a more familiar carol of that type in a few days. The Church in past times held a strong devotion to Jesus’ mother, Mary, and this carol is mainly about her, Jesus taking lesser space in the text.
In the carol we read (if we know Middle English and Latin!) that Jesus is born of David’s line, our sinless Saviour from sin as the prophets foretold.
I’ll add some helps in brackets where it may help.
Chorus
Of a rose synge we: Misterium mirabile. [marvellous mystery]
This rose is railed on a rys;
He hath bought the prince of prys,
And in this tyme soth hit ys, [true it is]
Viri sine semine. [of virgin birth]
This rose is reed of colour bryght,
Throw whom oure joye gan alyght,
Uppon a Cristys masse nyght,
Claro David germine. [of David’s line]
Of this rose was Cryst y-bore,
To save mankynde that was forlore;
And us alle from synnes sore,
Prophetarum carmine. [as the prophets sang]
This rose, of flourys she is flour, [flower]
She ne wole fade for no shour,
To synful men she sent socour,
Mira plenitudine.
This rose is so faire of hywe, [hue]
In maide Mary that is so trywe,
Y-borne was lorde of virtue,
Salvator sine crimine. [sinless Saviour]
What to you is the purpose of a carol?
The video link:
Paul